E300 OM606 diesel non starter

[3 phase]

Hi, wonder if anyone can help. I have glow plug issues and was planning to take the manifold off over Christmas and do what's necessary, up until last Saturday the car would start after a bit of cranking and smoke and after 10 secs or so all well.
However, on Monday night after the car had been stood for a couple of days it wouldn't start and still won't, it just spins over with little puffs of smoke from the exhaust and little coughs but no sign of any firing.
Fuel level is just over half way, it is parked nose up hill at the moment and access to it is very compromised in a car park.
To me it sounds like no fuel at the injectors, whipped the fuel filter off and checked the shut off on top it was clean and the filter was full. Have changed for another whilst there and filled that first. Is there another filter anywhere?
My main worry is how to check anything else with the manifold there and that was gong to be another question is there a "How To remove it thread? There seem to be torx head bolts with severely restricted access.
Apparently it has an electric shut off. Anyone know how to check that?

I fear I may need to get a mobile mech out due to it's location but
if there is anything I can do in the meantime I will.

Appreciate any help and advice.

 

[Auto-mobile]

All the glow plugs could have gone down, also check your fuel lines for fuel it may have a leak and drained the fuel system back to the tank.

 

[3 phase]

Almost definitely the glow plugs have all gone, but it's not that cold here, 18 ambient. As far as the fuel lines are concerned that's my question really, getting at them with the manifold in place, and where the car is located in a public car park. Looks like a tow to a garage I fear.

 

[trapperjohn]

Perhaps some "easy start" fired into the engine via the air intake whilst your crank.

 

[SilverSaloon]

no need for any of that. The fuel has drained all back to the tank. it will crank eventually but will probably deaden the battery trying.

whip out the washer fluid tank and disconnect the main feed and return pipes and pop them into a container of fuel. crank from this. it will start very quickly, then you can atleast move the car carefully running from the container of fuel.

you'll need to change the o-ring seals on the clear pipes and whatever other airleaks you have which will of caused this for it to start well enough in future. also dont part nose up until you have.

once the car is hot from running the can of fuel, re-connect the lines back to the main fuel tank and crank and it will pull the fuel through quickly as it will be nice and warm.

my car on Veg oil wont start with 3 or more glows out. up to that its OK. you can test the glows at the relay to see how many are dead.

there is a small mesh pre-filter before the main fuel filter (its at the side of it under a 10mm bolt). the other thing is the tank strainer in the fuel tank itself which can also be blocked. Try the fuel container trick 1st. if it runs from that but wont pull fuel through once you've reconnected it you either have a blockage in the main fuel pipes or you have a blocked tank strainer.

has the car been run on diesel or veg oil?

 

[3 phase]

Thanks for the info SS I was actually going to pm you in the first instance as you seem to have so much experience on this. No the car has never been on veg, my Renault Trafic lives on that. I'll get onto it this weekend and will probably be back on for advice no doubt.
Is there a how to for the manifold, I've seen perrot of doom's but that's for the turbo W210 OM606.

Cheers again.

 

[SilverSaloon]

if you take the manifold off then best to be armed with the rubber pipes that go hard and brittle... depends if they have been replaced in the last few years or not.

part numbers are:

A6060160081 - corner bung (x6) (£1.94)
A6060160181 - straight bung (x3) (£3.24)

hope it helps

you should be able to re-use the manifold gasket.

 

[SilverSaloon]

also do the orings/clear pipes when the manifold off as its much easier.... but they can be done with it still on apart from 1 at the back end of the fuel pump

 

[3 phase]

Are there part numbers for the o rings, are the clear pipes pre made or do you just cut to fit?

 

[3 phase]

Oh and by the way I'm 6'5 and have hands like bunches of bananas!!!!

 

[3 phase]

Haven't had a chance to start on it yet but I am a lucky boy as a neighbour who is going back to England for 3 weeks has lent me his W211 E320CDI whilst I tinker with mine. Hope it's what you say SS, thanks again.

 

[3 phase]

So tioday I got to grips with it and did what you said SS and it fired into life, then drove with container of fuel wedged in the space vacated by the washer bottle v. gently!! to my garage and put it back together. Found the problem straight away. It's the o rings on the shut off on top of the filter. Done those and now all dry and firing first time, well when it's hot that is, so over Christmas I'll whip the manifold off and replace pipes as necessary as well as the glow plugs as well. Thanks again Silver Saloon for your advice, SPOT ON!! :bannana:

 

[SilverSaloon]

So tioday I got to grips with it and did what you said SS and it fired into life, then drove with container of fuel wedged in the space vacated by the washer bottle v. gently!! to my garage and put it back together. Found the problem straight away. It's the o rings on the shut off on top of the filter. Done those and now all dry and firing first time, well when it's hot that is, so over Christmas I'll whip the manifold off and replace pipes as necessary as well as the glow plugs as well. Thanks again Silver Saloon for your advice, SPOT ON!! :bannana:

you can buy the orings from MB dealer, or a set of viton ones from ebay:

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

i actually did all the glowplugs (that were ALL siezed in) and the orings on my new-to-me silver E300D on saturdday...

when the manifold is off, then i'd also advise replacing or atleast cutting the end 2cm off the main rubber fuel feed and return pipes and rejoining the connectors. the ends go brittle with age and let in air. i didnt do this and now have to remove the manifold again to do it.

dont forget those breather bungs - all mine were shot on mine.... also get a tin of degreaser to try and clean the ports on the manifold and head best you can before refitting as they can gunk up... worth doing at the same time when you have it all in bits.

cheers

Derek

 

[3 phase]

Yes that's my next fear, glow plug seizure, worried about them breaking after reading posts on here. Loads of plus gas for a few days before and then warm engine up first seems to be the way to go??

 

[SilverSaloon]

Yes that's my next fear, glow plug seizure, worried about them breaking after reading posts on here. Loads of plus gas for a few days before and then warm engine up first seems to be the way to go??

issue is you cant get to them with the penetrating fluid days before because the manifold has to come off to get to them. unless u want to soak them in penetrating fluid and then let the car sit.... but then the car wont be able to get warm enough running with the manifold off.

what i do is this. Take it for a drive until its up to normal temp (80degrees). Then remove the manifold and spray all the glows with WD40. Then undo them one at a time. When they are unscrewed they may just pull out. if they dont then put some mole grips on the ends and turn them whilst putting light pressure to pull them out. if that doesnt work then start the engine and very very carefully try pulling them out again bearing in mind when they do pop out under pressure they will fly out with flame etc, like a bullet. Wear leather gloves and keep ready to get out the way when it releases. you should start to see it move out a few cm at a time as it gets loose. switch off the engine and then try pulling it out again. all mine were siezed in at the weekend but this method removed the one that wouldnt come out. you need to be very careful. once you have replaced all the ones that do come out, and you have one you think is really stuck, and you are not confident in it coming out without breaking, then connect up the glowplug connectors, switch on the ignition and see if the stuck plug actually works. if it does then it may be worth leaving it until it dies and then struggle with it.....

 

[3 phase]

Ah OK Derek, now I understand, I thought that the engine could be fired up once the manifold was off to warm it up but I've taken your points on board and I'll follow you. You've had a darn sight more experience than me. I've just tried to start and it did after about 5 secs of cranking and with the loan of the W211 I'm going to do it over xmas when I've got the parts so I'll stay in touch. Again Derek, many thanks for the info.

 

[3 phase]

Hope this gets picked up or I'll have to start a new thread but I am trying to track down some Beru glow plugs locally and note that there is a different part number for immobiliser and non immobiliser cars.
Mine is with an immobiliser and infra red central locking. The plugs are only about 1 euro more expensive, but the length is some 4.5mm shorter. Is that correct in your experience. I wonder why there is a difference? Any ideas, I just wanted to be sure before I order them. The beauty of this site, though not the cheapest, is that they do cash on delivery next day for me with carriage included.



Bujía de precalentamiento para MERCEDES-BENZ Classe E Berlina (124) E300D 3.0 D 136 cv a bajo precio

First one is non immobiliser, second one is immobiliser, note the lengths, 119.5 and 114 respectively, it's the only difference I can see.

 

[SilverSaloon]

just measured the ones i took out mine at the weekend. they appear to be 119.5mm from top to bottom..... hope it helps

it was actually a beru i took out - MB part number on it is 001 159 15 01 and also marked with the numbers 324 and 0 100 226 175 11.5V

derek

 

[holbay]

My glowplugs are the immobiliser type and it appears the electrical connector is different..George..

 

[SilverSaloon]

My glowplugs are the immobiliser type and it appears the electrical connector is different..George..

Olivier had this issue on his W210.... he fitted W124 glowplugs and modified the connectors iirc.

i suspect the "immobiliser" type are W210 glows and the non-immobiliser are W124 ones. Olivier's electric connection ends was shorter iirc which is where the difference is.

order the 119.5 ones.